On this plateau the yak grazers approached Guru Nanak Dev Ji with a request, "O Lord, in the winter the water in this lake freezes over and we find it very difficult to find any fresh water, can you not help us ?"

Guru Ji hit the perpetually snow-covered Lake with his stick to provide water for the grazers. The ice melted giving way to crystal clear water. Since then the water of the lake is stated to never freeze over.

The lake and the hill feature came to be known as Gurudongmar Lake in rememberence of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's visit.

The name can be found recorded in old maps prepared by the British in nineteenth century.